Mike Babcock will be the next head coach of the Edmonton Oilers. According to Sportsnet’s NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Babcock has already met with Oilers owner Daryl Katz and key members of the team’s leadership group.

Babcock as Edmonton’s new coach is interesting. He hasn’t coached an NHL game since 2019. I’m not sure it’s the right move for the Oilers. The reasons for his not coaching since 2019 are accusations of mistreating players. There is some concern that this move could alienate Edmonton’s top players. However, that does not appear to be the case.

According to Ryan Rishaug of TSN, the Oilers’ leadership group, which includes Connor McDavid, seems to be on board with hiring Babcock to be their next head coach.

“Sounds like the Oilers’ leadership group is firmly behind the Oilers going down this path,” Rishaug reported. “Babcock did meet with them to discuss things… It’s a critical time within this organization, and it would seem they feel whatever negative publicity may result from this is trumped by the level of urgency to get over the hurdle and win a cup.”

This is a big deal for a team that sees its window for winning closing. One of the main concerns about hiring Babcock is how he and the players will get along. The veteran coach has a reputation for being a very demanding person to play for, and he has crossed the line several times.

Babcock Will Need to Ditch Old Habits

During his last stint as a head coach, he was with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023. However, he had to resign before coaching a single game after substantial accusations. Reports indicated that he made players give up their phones so he could browse through them. Before that, he was let go from the Toronto Maple Leafs after a similar incident was reported.

The fear is that Babcock continues this trend of crossing boundaries in Edmonton and causes friction between him and the players. That is especially important for the Oilers management this upcoming season. McDavid will be eligible to sign another extension as soon as next summer.

If Babcock creates any sort of friction between himself and McDavid, it could put the captain’s long-term future with the organization in jeopardy. However, with McDavid giving the stamp of approval, that should ease some fears for now.